Legislators Mills, Hardwick sponsor resolution to save $50 million statewide, limit primary elections to two

The Erie County Legislature’s Minority Leader John J. Mills, R-Orchard Park, and Legislator Kevin Hardwick, R-Tonawanda, sponsored a resolution (attached) urging New York State leaders to implement a schedule calling for only two New York State primaries next year and save taxpayers millions of dollars. The item was approved during the Legislature’s Dec. 8, 2011 session and a copy sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

 

New York State could potentially hold three primary elections in 2012, one each for: president, congressional offices, and state offices. The resolution is in response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s request to a federal judge to order the state to move its congressional primary to no later than Aug. 18, in order to comply with a federal law requiring absentee ballots be sent to members of the military no less than 45 days prior to the Nov. 6, 2012 general election. The August primary is in addition to the April 24 primary election for president, which is set by New York State law. To date, New York State leaders have not imposed a new schedule that would change its primary, historically held in September.

 

“I have asked my colleagues in the county legislature to support this resolution and let our state leaders know that we oppose holding three separate primary elections next year. Locally, paying for three primary elections would cause a large deficit in Erie County’s Board of Elections’ budget,” said Minority Leader Mills. “The State Board of Elections has estimated that the total cost to the state, per primary, is approximately $50 million. We simply can’t allow the taxpayers to bear the burden of three primary elections when logistically we could merge the state and federal primaries into one.”

 

"Holding three primaries in 2012 would add insult to injury, as it would decrease participation in the elections and increase the cost to taxpayers," said Legislator Hardwick. "The state legislature and the governor must act to insure that there are only two primaries next year."

 

Legislator Mills added that the elective process must be respected and all laws adhered to as to ensure the public is allowed every opportunity to participate. In doing so, he expects state elected officials to be mindful of taxpayers’ money and set a schedule to reflect that.

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